NY A00528

Creates a new Article 10 in the Civil Rights Law establishing that any person acting under color of state law who deprives someone of constitutional rights is liable to the injured party through legal action

Grants the New York Supreme Court jurisdiction over civil rights suits, with state law applied where available and common law extended where state provisions are deficient

Requires courts to award reasonable attorney's fees (including expert fees) to prevailing parties in civil rights and human rights enforcement actions, except against the state itself

Protects judicial officers from injunctive relief for judicial acts unless a declaratory decree was violated, and shields them from costs/fees unless they acted clearly outside their jurisdiction

Directs courts to consider federal precedent interpreting 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983 and 1988 when interpreting this section; takes effect 90 days after becoming law